Multitier stretching, tentering, and drying machine



April 30, 1929. A. SCHNITZLER 1,710,843

MULTITIER STRETCHING, TENTERING, AND DRYING Filed larch 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 30, 1929. A. SCHNITZLER 1,710,343

MULTITIER STRETCHING, TENTERING, AND DRYING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1925-3 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST SCHNITZLER, OF GEBA, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TU THE FIRM I. RUDOLI' JAHB, MASCHINENFABRIK, F GERA, GERMANY.

MULTTTIER STRETCHING, TENTERING, AND DBYII Q'G MACHINE.

Application filed March 14, 1928, Serial No. 261,627, and in Germany March 17,1927.

It is known that when drying webs of fabric, it is desirable that the drying air should travel in the direction opposite to that of the movement of the material to be dried. In the usual multi-tier stretching, tentering and drying machines, in which the drying air travels in the longitudinal direction of the fabric, such a counter-current of air cannot be obtained satisfactorily, as the air passing between the layers always travels in the same direction as that of one of the webs.

It is further known to use for producing circulation of air in the drying chambers, series fans which with a relatively low consumption of power, deliver very large quantities of air. In spite of many attempts, it has not been found possible hitherto to use with advantage such series fans in'multi-tier stretching, tentering and drying machlnes. The present invention solves this problem. It consists in arranging for each tier series fans on a horizontal axis at one or both sides of the machine, in such a manner that the air in every tier is conveyed transversely of the fabric web and guided from one series fan to another.

Two constructions of a machine with four tiers are diagrammatically shown by way of example in the accompanying drawlng.

Fi 1 is a vertical sectional view through one orm of a machine with series fans arranged at one side, the section being taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

V Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the machine with series fanson both sides, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4, and 7/ Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. V

The shape of the machine can be any ,desired it is merely necessary'that the material to be dried should be reciprocated in superposed webs a eight in the construction illustrated) in the longitudinal direction of the machine (see arrow 1 in Figure 2). At one side of the machine are arranged above each other four horizontal series fans b, 6 b, b.

Each of the series fans is constituted by a number of air propellers a with a. cell or casing at in which they are mounted. The air propellers with their casings are mounted on a common spindle e, each of which has a sep- 3 and 4, at the side of the machine, in place arate driving motor. Under each series fan is further arranged a heater Z, Z Z, Z.

The cold dry air is admitted into the machine at g, at the side opposite to that of the series fans, and moved by the air propellers of the lowermost series fan I; in the direction of the arrows shown on Figure 1, that is to say it is drawn in by the lowermost air propellers transversely of the lowermost web a on the whole length of the machine, then turned or deflected through an angle of 180 by the air propellers and passes transversely between the two lowermost webs. It then passesinto a lateral conduit h from which it is drawn in by the air propellers of the second series fan b etc., whilst partitions d in the conduit prevent the air from rising in the same. From the space above the uppermost web, the moist hot air is then discharged into the open by an ordinary fan 70.

As will be seen from Figure 1, the air always travels transversely of the webs, name- 1y exactly as a counter-current, in as far as the cold dry air comes in contact at the bottom with the portion of the material ,which has been dried most, and finally passes at the top in front of the uppermost web with the greatest moisture, after having been heated by the different heaters in each tier and after having absorbed the greatest quantity of moisture. The air propellers with their casings, st arranged above each other, co-operate with each other in such a manner that the air propeller of the lowermost series fan delivers the air to the air propeller of the series above it, and soon. The heaters in each tier can be of the same size, which is advantageous as the resistance to the passage of the air is then the same in each tier.

The driving of the various series fans can also be efiected from one common motor, but it appears preferable to drive each series fan separately in order to drive them at diiferent speeds.

In the construction illustrated in Figures of the lateral conduit It, are arranged series fans m tom which are staggered to the extent of half a tier relatively to the series fans b to b. v

The air can be guided also so that it will pass first only into the front fan of the lowermost series fan 5, and then be driven by the latter transversely of the direction .of

movement of the material, in the manner shown in Figure 1, then pass into the second fan of the series fan I) and then be driven by the latter again transversely of the direction of movement of the material, etc., until it passes from the rearmost fan of the series fan 6 into the fan of the series fan 5 above it, and. retraces ,the same path in the latter.

Any desired construction oi"- series fan can be used, but that shown in the drawing is particularly useful as it is of great capacity and is very satisfactory as regards its construction and drive,

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in What manner the same is to be performed, I declare that What I claim is 1. In a stretching, tentering and drying machine, a plurality of tiers'adapted to receive fabric Webs, and at least one series fan having a horizontal axis for each tier adapted to convey air transversely of the fabric Web and guide it from one series fan to another.

2. In a stretching, tentering and drying machine, a plurality of tiers adapted to re ceive fabric Webs, and at least one series fan having a horizontal axis for each tier adapted to convey air transversely of the fabric Web and guide it from one series fan to another, each series fan including air propellers mounted on a single drive shaft, and cells receiving the series fans.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature AUGUST SCHNITZLER, 

